Rep. George Miller, (D-CA)

Ranking Member, Education and Workforce Committee 

Rep. George Miller is one of the most experienced lawmakers on public education.  In 2001, along with Speaker John Boehner, Sen. Ted Kennedy and Sen. Judd Gregg, he actually wrote the No Child Left Behind Act, the name given to the most recent reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.  What has Rep. Miller said about this legislation?  A great many things, but most memorable is:  "At the end of the day, No Child Left Behind may be the most tainted brand in America." 

With the results of the 2010 election, Rep. Miller, a democrat, lost the Chairmanship of the Committee on Education and Labor.  The new Chairman, Rep. John Klein of Minnesota, might usurp Rep. Miller’s place on this list, but for now, Rep. Klein’s influence is unexercised.  With reauthorization of NCLB on the congressional agenda for 2011, leading educational thinkers, movers and shakers will want to appear before the committee to present the case to include their preferred reforms in the next reauthorization.  Because Rep. Miller is the Ranking Member, and further, due to his deep knowledge of education legislation, he has a great deal of power and influence.

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